Your Leeds local election 2018 A to Z: Armley

ARMLEY - KEY ISSUES AND NUMBERS

Bins and booze are the main causes of voter dissatisfaction in Armley, and any realistic solutions to tackling these are issues are likely to be vote-winners.

The west Leeds suburb has long-standing issues with street drinking in Town Street. Several schemes have been tried to tackle it, including a straight ban on drinking in public, but seemingly to no real avail.

Last year, a Cumulative Impact Policy was introduced. This gives council licencing panels the ability to refuse a particular application for an alcohol permit if it is felt an area is already saturated with such businesses and more could be damaging,

Armley has a staggering 11 off-licences and six pubs operating in a small area, and many believe this is integral to the street drinking problem. A public spaces protection order has also been imposed on the area.

This Asbo-like measure is another attempt to curb street drinking. In Armley, it also bans people from leaving their bins in the street.

Rubbish and flytipping are a constant source of misery for residents in Armley. Abandoned commercial waste is a particular bugbear for families and authorities alike, as the council says it has to get special enforcement powers – which it doesn’t automatically have – to tackle every episode. But it’s not just about commercial waste.

Bin collections have proven problematic for many families, especially in the Averies area, according to one observer. Armley was switched to alternate weekly black and green bin collections in 2013, but it hasn’t worked. People just aren’t recycling, the YEP was told, and they won’t be forced into doing it.

Despite everything, there is a good community spirit in Armley and a genuine will to improve things. The Armley Festival has been a massive success in recent years. And Gotts Park Golf Club – which was taken over by a community group from council management – is now thriving.

What will win your votes in Armley? Email [email protected].